John James Audubon

John James Audubon (Jean-Jacques Audubon) (April 26, 1785 – January 27, 1851) was a man of one idea, an enthusiast and devotee to his single chosen subject of fascinated study.

His devotion to that study was strangely unselfish and even self-sacrificing. To it he gave time, toil, the endurance of hardship, and an utter disregard of personal well-being throughout long years.

In all this, he seems to have had no idea whatever of gain, or even of reputation. It was not, indeed, until he was a man of middle age that he seems ever to have thought of turning to any practical account the results of his long years of diligent endeavor.

He was the son of a French naval officer, and was born in Louisiana, May 4, 178o. His father thought to train him for a career similar to his own as an officer in the French navy, but the boy from his earliest childhood manifested a passion for natural history which was not only absorbing but strangely exclusive of interest in anything else.

As a mere child he was a student of animals and birds, but more particularly of birds. It was his habit o make drawings of them and to color these, when he could, as faithfully as his untrained eye and hand would permit. In view of his later eminence in this department, it seems a special pity that he was modest while a boy, and burned those juvenile efforts, which, had they been preserved, would have had an interest peculiar to themselves, and quite inestimable.

The making of these pictures began soon after his early infancy was past. The passion that inspired them seems to have been born with the boy. It was observed by his parents while he was yet in pinafores.

It was impossible to educate such a boy in any but the one direction of his own choice, and his father, wisely realizing this, sought to make a painter of him. To that end he placed him as a student with David, who was then foremost among painters, and especially notable for his capacity to instruct young pupils, particularly in the art of drawing.

But young Audubon took little interest in the work assigned him in the studio. Following his instincts, instead, he spent the time he should have given to the study of perspective in wandering through the woods and fields, and making more and more intimate acquaintance with his friends, the birds. These he portrayed in preference to the subjects that David set for him to study.

When young Audubon was seventeen years of age, his father abandoned all effort to give him a regular education, even in art, and sent him to live the wild life that he preferred, on a farm which he owned near Philadelphia. Here began that wonderful collection of birds and eggs which made Audubon's name famous in after years. Here, too, began in earnest his work of painting portraits of his specimens, though to him it did not present itself as work, or impress him in any sense as a matter of serious endeavor. He pictured his birds with fidelity because he loved them, taking no thought whatever for any use that might be made of his pictures.

Artist: John Syme (1795 - 1861). Title: John James Audubon. Date: 1826. Medium: Oil on canvas. Dimensions: 90.2 × 69.8 cm (35.51 × 27.48 in) Current location: White House, Washington, D.C., United States Notes: White House copy of the 1826 painting Notes by Kloss, William, et al. Art in the White House: A Nation's Pride. Washington, D.C.: The White House Historical Association, 2008: "On Monday, November 27, 1826, Audubon recorded in his journal that he had to 'stand up' for a portrait, wearing his wolf-skin coat at [William H.] Lizars' request . . . . On November 30 the portrait was finished . . . . Although Audubon questioned the resemblance, it is only in a slight emphasis of the length of the head over its breadth that the artist deviated from his model.

This is borne out by comparison with Audubon's Self-Portrait (private collection) made two months earlier. As for his 'enraged Eagle' eyes, they were commented upon by others. Together with his beaklike nose and flowing hair, they made and indelible impression upon all who met the artist- naturalist . . . ."

Source / Photographer: The White House Historical Association.

This IMAGE (or other media file) is in the public domain because its copyright has expired.This applies to the United States, where Works published prior to 1978 were copyright protected for a maximum of 75 years. See Circular 1 "COPYRIGHT BASICS" PDF from the U.S. Copyright Office. Works published before 1923 (in this case 1826) are now in the public domain.

This file is also in the public domain in countries that figure copyright from the date of death of the artist (post mortem auctoris) in this case John Syme (1795 - 1861), and that most commonly runs for a period of 50 to 70 years from December 31st of that year.

TEXT CREDIT: The American immortals: the record of men who by their achievement in statecraft, war, science, literature, art, law and commerce have created the American republic, and whose names are inscribed in the Hall of fame

Fish Crow from "The Birds of America"

The Fish Crow (Corvus ossifragus) is a typical crow in appearance associated with wetland habitats. The Fish Crow is similar to the American Crow but is smaller and has a smoother plumage. The upperparts have a blue or blue-green sheen, while the underparts have a more greenish tint to the black. The eyes are dark brown. The differences are often only apparent between the two when side by side or, when heard calling.

The call of the Fish Crow has been described as a nasal "ark-ark-ark" or a "waw-waw". The two species are often distinguish in areas where their range overlaps with the mnemonic aid "Just ask him if he is an American Crow. If he says "no", he is a Fish Crow." referring to the most common call of the American Crow being a distinct "caw caw", while that of the Fish Crow is a nasal "nyuh unh"

The species occurs on the eastern seaboard of the United States from the state of Rhode Island south to Key West, and west along the northern coastline of the Gulf of Mexico

Fish Crow from "The Birds of America" by John James Audubon, containing paintings and scientific descriptions of a wide variety of birds of the United States. first published as a series of sections between 1827 and 1838, it consists of hand-colored, life-size prints.

Often regarded as the greatest picture book ever produced. A copy sold at Christie's in March of 2000 for $8,802,500, which is still a world record for any printed book.

All 435 of John James Audubon's watercolors for Birds of America are at the New York Historical Society. There are 119 complete copies of the Double Elephant Folio in existence today.This image (or other media file) is in the public domain because its copyright has expired.

This applies to the United States, where Works published prior to 1978 were copyright protected for a maximum of 75 years. See Circular 1 "COPYRIGHT BASICS" PDF . Works published before 1923 (in this case 1827 to 1838.) are now in the public domain. and also in countries that figure copyright from the date of death of the artist (post mortem auctoris) in this case (John James Audubon April 26, 1785 – January 27, 1851) and that most commonly run for a period of 50 to 70 years from that date.

Attribution: John James Audubon [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons Fish Crow From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

American Flamingo from "The Birds of America"

American Flamingo from "The Birds of America" by John James Audubon, containing paintings and scientific descriptions of a wide variety of birds of the United States. first published as a series of sections between 1827 and 1838, it consists of hand-colored, life-size prints. Often regarded as the greatest picture book ever produced. A copy sold at Christie's in March of 2000 for $8,802,500, which is still a world record for any printed book. All 435 of John James Audubon's watercolors for Birds of America are at the New York Historical Society. There are 119 complete copies of the Double Elephant Folio in existence today.

This image (or other media file) is in the public domain because its copyright has expired.

This applies to the United States, where Works published prior to 1978 were copyright protected for a maximum of 75 years. See Circular 1 "COPYRIGHT BASICS" PDF . Works published before 1923 (in this case 1827 to 1838.) are now in the public domain. and also in countries that figure copyright from the date of death of the artist (post mortem auctoris) in this case (John James Audubon April 26, 1785 – January 27, 1851) and that most commonly run for a period of 50 to 70 years from that date.

Wild Turkey from "The Birds of America"

Wild Turkey from "The Birds of America" by John James Audubon, containing paintings and scientific descriptions of a wide variety of birds of the United States. first published as a series of sections between 1827 and 1838, it consists of hand-colored, life-size prints. Often regarded as the greatest picture book ever produced. A copy sold at Christie's in March of 2000 for $8,802,500, which is still a world record for any printed book. All 435 of John James Audubon's watercolors for Birds of America are at the New York Historical Society. There are 119 complete copies of the Double Elephant Folio in existence today.

This image (or other media file) is in the public domain because its copyright has expired.

This applies to the United States, where Works published prior to 1978 were copyright protected for a maximum of 75 years. See Circular 1 "COPYRIGHT BASICS" PDF . Works published before 1923 (in this case 1827 to 1838.) are now in the public domain. and also in countries that figure copyright from the date of death of the artist (post mortem auctoris) in this case (John James Audubon April 26, 1785 – January 27, 1851) and that most commonly run for a period of 50 to 70 years from that date.

Black Vulture, or Carrion Crow Cathahtes Athatus, Wilson

Black Vulture, or Carrion Crow. I have represented a pair of Carrion Crows or Black Vultures in full plumage, engaged with the head of our Common Deer, the Cervus virginianus. Cathahtes Athatus, Wilson. PLATE III.—Male And Female.

Title: The birds of America: from drawings made in the United States and their territories. Volume 1 of The Birds of America, John James Audubon. The Birds of America: From Drawings Made in the United States and Their Territories, John James Audubon. Author: John James Audubon (April 26, 1785 – January 27, 1851). Publisher: J.J. Audubon, 1840. Original from: Harvard University. Digitized: Jun 12, 2007.

This Image (or other media file) is in the public domain because its copyright has expired. This applies to the United States, where Works published prior to 1923 are copyright protected for a maximum of 75 years. See Circular 1 "COPYRIGHT BASICS" PDF from the U.S. Copyright Office. Works published before 1923 (in this case 1840) are now in the public domain.

This file is also in the public domain in countries that figure copyright from the date of death of the artist (post mortem auctoris in this case John James Audubon (April 26, 1785 – January 27, 1851), and that most commonly runs for a period of 50 to 70 years from December 31 of that year.

This bird is a constant resident in all our southern States, extends far up the Mississippi, and continues the whole year in Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, and even in the State of Ohio as far as Cincinnati. Along the Atlantic coast it is, I believe, rarely seen farther east than Maryland. It seems to give a preference to maritime districts, or the neighbourhood of water. Although shy in the woods, it is half domesticated in and about our cities and villages, where it finds food without the necessity of using much exertion.

Charleston, Savannah, New Orleans, Natchez, and other cities, are amply provided with these birds, which may be seen flying or walking about the streets the whole day in groups. They also regularly attend the markets and shambles, to pick up the pieces of flesh thrown away by the butchers, and, when an opportunity occurs, leap from one bench to another, for the purpose of helping themselves. Hundreds of them are usually found, at all hours of the day, about the slaughterhouses, which are their favourite resort. They alight on the roofs and chimney-tops, wherever these are not guarded by spikes or pieces of glass, which, however, they frequently are, for the purpose of preventing the contamination by their ordure of the rain water, which the inhabitants of the southern States collect in tanks, or cisterns, for domestic use.

They follow the carts loaded with offal or dead animals to the places in the suburbs where these are deposited, and wait the skinning of a cow or horse, when in a few hours they devour its flesh, in the company of the dogs,, which are also accustomed to frequent such places. On these occasions they fight with each other, leap about and tug in all the hurry and confusion imaginable, uttering a harsh sort of hiss or grunt, which may be heard at a distance of several hundred yards. Should eagles make their appearance at such a juncture, the Carrion Crows retire, and patiently wait until their betters are satisfied, but they pay little regard to the dogs.

When satiated, they rise together, should the weather be fair, mount high in the air, and perform various evolutions, flying in large circles, alternately plunging and rising, until they at length move off in a straight direction, or alight on the dead branches of trees, where they spread out their wings and tail to the sun or the breeze. In cold and wet weather they assemble round the chimney-tops, to receive the warmth imparted by the smoke. I never heard of their disgorging their food on such occasions, that being never done unless when they are feeding their young, or when suddenly alarmed or caught. In that case, they throw up the contents of their stomach with wonderful quickness and power.

The Carrion Crows of Charleston resort at night to a swampy wood across the Ashley river, about two miles from the city. I visited this roosting place in company with my friend John Bachman, approaching it by a close thicket of undergrowth, tangled with vines and briars. When nearly under the trees on which the birds were roosted, we found the ground destitute of vegetation, and covered with ordure and feathers, mixed with the broken branches of the trees. The stench was horrible. The trees were completely covered with birds, from the trunk to the very tips of the branches.

They were quite unconcerned; but, having determined to send them the contents of our guns, and firing at the same instant, we saw most of them fly off, hissing, grunting, disgorging, and looking down on their dead companions as if desirous of devouring them. We kept up a brisk fusilade for several minutes, when they all flew off to a great distance high in the air; but as we retired, we observed them gradually descending and settling on the same trees. The piece of ground was about two acres in extent, and the number of Vultures we estimated at several thousands. During very wet weather, they not unfrequently remain the whole day on the roost; but when it is fine, they reach the city every morning by the first glimpse of day.

The Carrion Crow and Turkey-Buzzard possess great power of recollection, so as to recognise at a great distance a person who has shot at them, and even the horse on which he rides. On several occasions I have observed that they would fly off at my approach, after I had trapped several, when they took no notice of other individuals; and they avoided my horse in the pastures, after I had made use of him to approach and shoot them.